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Why Are IVF Success Rates So Variable?

Why do IVF success rates vary from doctor to doctor and clinic to clinic?

One of the first things that people notice when they start researching In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and other Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatments is that success rates vary widely between different doctors and different clinics. While it stands to reason that there would be some variability, I wanted to take a few minutes to explain a few of the reasons that they vary as much as they do.

To keep the topic well-defined we will restrict our discussion to the following ART procedures: ICSI IVF, Donor Egg IVF and Donor Sperm IVF.

Sources of Average IVF Success Rate Data

While individual practitioners and clinics self-report their success rates, it is a difficult task to understand how those numbers correlate to the larger ART industry averages and, most importantly, how they relate to your individual chances of conception with an IVF treatment.

Fortunately, the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is obliged to collect ART outcomes data for each clinic in the nation. Even better, the data is publicly-accessible and is broken down by the age bracket of the patient, the treatment type and the specific clinic reporting the outcomes.

This gives you all the tools you need to find out how your local clinic measures up, and not just in terms of averages, but with specificity to your chosen treatment (ICSI IVF, for example) and your age bracket. You also get to see the number of patients who received that treatment, broken down by age group. The most recent data, for 2007, is available at Assisted Reproductive Technology experience. Their full-service approach ensures that alocal representatives is always nearby to assist with any needs throughout the trip. Case managers build a seamless travel plan, including a complete plan for the critical times before and after the medical procedure.Amazon.com Widgets